Pesticidal pyrazoles and derivatives

ABSTRACT

Process for the protection of a building that has already been built or is going to be built, whereby an effective amount of an insecticidally active compound is spread around or under the said building at discrete locations. The insecticide may be an arylpyrazole.

This application is a divisional of, and claims benefit of, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/308,852, filed on Jul. 19, 1999, which is now U.S. Pat. No. 6,414,010, which is a 371 of PCT/EP97/07355, filed on Nov. 24, 1997.

An object of the instant invention is to protect a building that has already been built or is going to be built against crawling insects, especially against termites.

The insecticidal compounds of the family of the 1-arylpyrazoles are known to be active against termites.

Conventional termite control operators apply the chemical around or under the building or houses to form a barrier against termites invasion. However loopholes in the treatment may cause failure of protection of the houses.

Another system is to use a bait which contains an attractant for termites so as to force the termites to eat the bait and then to be killed by the active ingredient contained also in that bait.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved process of protection of houses.

Another object of the invention is to provide a treatment against termites which reduce the number of the call-back from house owners of treated houses.

An object of the instant invention is to protect the building with the minimum amount of insecticidally active ingredient.

Another object of the instant invention is to have a good level of protection of buildings against termites while reducing the amount of applied insecticide.

Another object of the instant invention is to reduce the need to treat directly the location where the termites are or are expected to be.

Another object of the instant invention is to provide a curative treatment with reduced need to find out the precise place of termites attacks.

Another object of the instant invention is to provide a curative treatment which is effective even when attacked parts are untreated.

Another object of the instant invention is to provide a curative treatment which is mainly a blind treatment with no checking of the attacked parts.

Another object of the instant invention is to provide a termite treatment functioning like an intangible trap.

Another object of the instant invention is to provide a termite treatment without barrier.

Another object of the instant invention is to provide a termite treatment which is mainly a soil treatment.

It has been found that these goals may be achieved by means of the process of the instant invention.

The present invention relates to a process for the protection of a building that has already been built or is going to be built, whereby an effective amount of an insecticidally active compound is spread around or under the building at discrete locations.

The insecticidally active material which can be used in the invention is an active ingredient which is active by contact (contact with species to be killed) and has no repellent effect on the insects, preferably no repellent effect on the insects to be killed.

A preferred class of active ingredient which can be used in the invention are the compounds without quick knock-down effect, or compounds able to produce a so-called secondary killing effect, that is to say an action of killing insects which have not been directly treated by mean of the said insecticide. Also preferred are the insecticides which are able to kill the termites of the termites nest when brought back by treated termites coming close to the house or building built or to be built.

In a practical point of view, the most preferred compounds are insecticides of the 1-arylpyrazole type, especially those having the formula (I):

in which:

R₁ is CN or methyl or a halogen atom,

R₂ is S(O)_(n)R₃ or 4,5-dicyanoimidazol 2-yl or haloalkyl,

R₃ is alkyl or haloalkyl;

R₄ represents a hydrogen or halogen atom or a member of a group consisting of NR₅R₆, S(O)_(m)R₇, C(O)R₇, C(O)O—R₇, alkyl, haloalkyl, OR₈ and —N═C(R₉)(R₁₀);

R₅ and R₆ independently represent the hydrogen atom or an alkyl, haloalkyl, C(O)alkyl, alkoxycarbonyl or S(O)_(r)CF₃ radical; or R₅ and R₆ can together form a divalent alkylene radical which can be interrupted by one or two divalent heteroatoms, such as oxygen or sulfur;

R₇ represents an alkyl or haloalkyl radical;

R₈ represents an alkyl or haloalkyl radical or a hydrogen atom;

R₉ represents an alkyl radical or a hydrogen atom;

R₁₀ represents a phenyl or heteroaryl group which may optionally be unsubstituted or substituted by one or more halogen atoms or a member of the group consisting of OH, —O-alkyl, —S-alkyl, cyano, and alkyl;

R₁₁ and R₁₂ represent, independently of one another, a hydrogen or halogen atom, or CN or NO₂,

R₁₃ represents a halogen atom or a haloalkyl, haloalkoxy, S(O)_(q)CF₃ or SF₅ group,

X represents a trivalent nitrogen atom or a C—R₁₂ radical, the other three valences of the carbon atom forming part of the aromatic ring,

m, n, q, and r represent, independently of one another, an integer equal to 0, 1, or 2,

provided that, when R₁ is methyl, then either R₃ is haloalkyl, R₄ is NH₂, R₁₁ is Cl, R₁₃ is CF₃ and X is N; or then R₂ is 4,5-dicyanoimidazol 2-yl, R₄ is Cl, R₁₁ is Cl, R₁₃ is CF₃, and X is ═C—Cl.

Alkyl groups have generally 1 to 6 carbon atoms.

A preferred group of effective 1-arylpyrazoles of the present invention is that wherein:

R₁ is CN; R₃ is a haloalkyl radical; R₄ is NH₂; X is C—R₁₂;

R₁₁ and R₁₂ represent, independently of one another, a halogen atom; and

R₁₃ is a haloalkyl radical.

A most preferred compound is 5-amino 1-(2,6-dichloro 4-trifluoromethyl phenyl) 4-trifluoromethylsulfinyl 3-cyanopyrazole, hereafter designated as compound (A).

Compounds of formula (I) may be prepared according to known processes, for example as described in International Patent Publications n° WO 87/3781, 93/6089, and 94/21606 as well as in European Patent Applications 295117, 403300, 385809 or 679650, German Patent Publication 19511269 and U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,232,940 and 5,236,938 or other process according to the knowledge of a man skilled in the art of chemical synthesis, which is deemed to include the Chemical Abstract and the literature referred to therein. Compositions comprising the compounds of formula (I) may also be prepared according to the teaching of same prior art or similar one.

An advantageous way of practicing the invention is to use the active ingredient in a formulation which does not contain any adjuvant having termite attractant properties. Even though, such attractant may be used optionally, it may be risky, and it may make the residents or owners of the house reluctant against such treatment. Known processes were generally unable to avoid the use of attractant in order to be effective.

The process of the invention may be practiced in a preventive way as well as in a curative way.

The actual treatment by mean of active ingredient may be made inside or outside the outline of the houses or buildings to be built.

It is generally more effective to apply the active ingredient or formulation at a locus where the insects, especially the termites are more frequently crawling or traveling or climbing. These locus are more particularly the corners and/or crossing walls of the buildings or buildings which are going to be built. They are also more particularly the locus which have a greater humidity level than the rest of the perimeter of the house.

The active ingredient is applied advantageously on soil. It might be simple surface treatment or also spraying, mixing, blending or drenching of the soil with a formulation.

The effective amount of compound applied on soil is generally within the range of 0.05 g of active ingredient per m² of surface of the soil to 0.0001 g/m². This range is given for the precise locus where the active ingredient is applied.

As already said, the active ingredient is applied on discrete locus. The general rate of application is such that the treated part of the perimeter of the house is 0.5 to 7.5 treated meter per 10 meter of global perimeter, the width of treated locus being in the range of 1 to 50 cm, preferably 5 to 30 cm.

For their application, the compounds of the formula (I), or derivatives thereof, are generally in the form of compositions, which are in various solid or liquid forms.

Solid forms of compositions which can be used are dusting powders (with a content of the compound of formula (I), or a pesticidally acceptable salt thereof, ranging up to 80%), wettable powders or granules (including water dispersible granules), particularly those obtained by extrusion, compacting, impregnation of a granular carrier, or granulation starting from a powder (the content of the compound of formula (I), or a pesticidally acceptable salt thereof, in these wettable powders or granules being between about 0.5 and about 80%). Solid homogenous or heterogeneous compositions containing one or more compounds of formula (I), or pesticidally acceptable salts thereof, for example granules, pellets, briquettes or capsules, may be used to treat standing or running water over a period of time. A similar effect may be achieved using trickle or intermittent feeds of water dispersible concentrates as described herein.

Liquid compositions, for example, include aqueous or non-aqueous solutions or suspensions (such as emulsifiable concentrates, emulsions, flowables, dispersions, or solutions) or aerosols. Liquid compositions also include, in particular, emulsifiable concentrates, dispersions, emulsions, flowables, aerosols, wettable powders (or powder for spraying), dry flowables or pastes as forms of compositions which are liquid or intended to form liquid compositions when applied, for example as aqueous sprays (including low and ultra-low volume) or as fogs or aerosols.

Liquid compositions, for example, in the form of emulsifiable or soluble concentrates most frequently comprise about 5 to about 80% by weight of the active ingredient, while the emulsions or solutions which are ready for application contain, in their case, about 0.01 to about 20% of the active ingredient. Besides the solvent, the emulsifiable or soluble concentrates may contain, when required, about 2 to about 50% of suitable additives, such as stabilisers, surface-active agents, penetrating agents, corrosion inhibitors, colorants or adhesives. Emulsions of any required concentration, which are particularly suitable for application, may be obtained from these concentrates by dilution with water. These compositions are included within the scope of the compositions which may be employed in the present invention. The emulsions may be in the form of water-in-oil or oil-in-water type and they may have a thick consistency.

The liquid compositions of this invention may, in addition to normal agricultural use applications be used for example to treat substrates or sites infested or liable to infestation by arthropods (or other pests controlled by compounds of this invention) including premises, outdoor or indoor storage or processing areas, containers or equipment for standing or running water.

All these aqueous dispersions or emulsions or spraying mixtures can be applied, by any suitable means, chiefly by spraying, at rates which are generally of the order of about 100 to about 1,200 liters of spraying mixture per hectare, but may be higher or lower (e.g. low or ultra-low volume) depending upon the need or application technique.

The concentrated suspensions, which can be applied by spraying, are prepared so as to produce a stable fluid product which does not settle (fine grinding) and usually contain from about 10 to about 75% by weight of active ingredient, from about 0.5 to about 30% of surface-active agents, from about 0.1 to about 10% of thixotropic agents, from about 0 to about 30% of suitable additives, such as anti-foaming agents, corrosion inhibitors, stabilisers, penetrating agents, adhesives and, as the carrier, water or an organic liquid in which the active ingredient is poorly soluble or insoluble Some organic solids or inorganic salts may be dissolved in the carrier to help prevent settling or as antifreezes for water.

The wettable powders (or powder for spraying) are usually prepared so that they contain from about 10 to about 80% by weight of active ingredient, from about 20 to about 90% of a solid carrier, from about 0 to about 5% of a wetting agent, from about 3 to about 10% of a dispersing agent and, when necessary, from about 0 to about 80% of one or more stabilisers and/or other additives, such as penetrating agents, adhesives, anti-caking agents, colorants, or the like. To obtain these wettable powders, the active ingredient(s) is(are) thoroughly mixed in a suitable blender with additional substances which may be impregnated on the porous filler and is(are) ground using a mill or other suitable grinder. This produces wettable powders, the wettability and the suspendability of which are advantageous. They may be suspended in water to give any -desired concentration and this suspension can be employed very advantageously for application.

The “water dispersible granules (WG)” (granules which are readily dispersible in water) have compositions which are substantially close to that of the wettable powders. They may be prepared by granulation of formulations described for the wettable powders, either by a wet route (contacting finely divided active ingredient with the inert filler and a little water, e.g. 1 to 20% by weight, or with an aqueous solution of a dispersing agent or binder, followed by drying and screening), or by a dry route (compacting followed by grinding and screening).

Generally speaking, the compositions for application against pests usually contain from about 0.00001% to about 95%, more particularly from about 0.0005% to about 50% by weight of one or more compounds of formula (I), or pesticidally acceptable salts thereof, or of total active ingredients.

The following examples are given to help a person skilled in the art to understand how to practice the invention. They should not be used to restrict or limit the said invention.

EXAMPLE 1

In an area where termites are passing or traveling, plans for a house are made. The plans are that the house will have a rectangular shape of 15 m×10 m with 4 rooms at the lower level.

Compound (A) is actually put on the soil at a rate of 0.01 g/m² of the soil at the location of the future corners of the house and at the crossing of the walls corresponding to each room according to the following scheme:

The treated area represents 5 m per 10 m of perimeter.

After 1 year after building the house, no attack of termite is observed.

A similar experiment made with chiorpyrifos results in the observation (one year after building the house) of a strong attack of termites (parts of the walls have holes of more than 10% of the volume).

EXAMPLE 2

Example 1 is repeated, except that the active ingredient is applied inside the perimeter of the house. In other words, the locus of application differ from example 1 only by the fact that it is located at the other side of the wall. Results similar to those of example 1 are obtained. 

What is claimed is:
 1. Process for the protection of a building against damage caused by insects comprising the steps of: a) forming a solution or suspension of an insecticidally active ingredient in a liquid, wherein the amount of the active ingredient in the solution or suspension is from about 0.01 to about 20% by weight and the active ingredient has no quick knock down effect and a secondary killing action; b) forming treated and untreated locations along the perimeter of the building by applying an effective amount of said solution or suspension to discrete locations around or under said building along the perimeter of the building, wherein the treated locations are the discrete locations along the perimeter of the building where said solution or suspension has been applied and the untreated locations are the remaining portions of the perimeter where the solution or suspension was not applied; wherein the combination of said treated locations and said untreated locations along the perimeter of the building equal the total perimeter of the building and further wherein said treated locations make up 0.5 to 7.5 meter per 10 meter of the total perimeter of the building, and said active ingredient is an insecticide of the formula (I):

in which: X represents a trivalent nitrogen atom or a C—R₁₂ radical, wherein the other three valences of the carbon atom are part of the aromatic ring, R₁ is CN or methyl or a halogen atom, R₂ is S(O)_(n)R₃ or 4,5-dicyanoimidazol 2-yl or haloalkyl, R₃ is alkyl or haloalkyl; R₄ represents a hydrogen or halogen atom or a member of the group consisting of NR₅R₆, S(O)_(m)R₇, C(O)R₇, C(O)O—R₇, alkyl, haloalkyl, OR₈ and —N═C(R₉)(R₁₀); R₅ and R₆ are both hydrogen or together form a divalent alkylene radical which is interrupted by one or two divalent heteroatoms, said divalent heteroatoms being independently selected from the group consisting of oxygen and sulfur; R₇ represents an alkyl or haloalkyl radical; R₈ represents an alkyl or haloalkyl radical or a hydrogen atom; R₉ represents an alkyl radical or a hydrogen atom; R₁₀ represents a phenyl or heteroaryl group which may optionally be unsubstituted or substituted by one or more halogen atoms or a member of the group consisting of OH, —O-alkyl, —S-alkyl, cyano, and alkyl; R₁₁ and R₁₂ represent, independently of one another, a hydrogen or halogen atom, or CN or NO₂, R₁₃ represents a halogen atom or a haloalkyl, haloalkoxy, S(O)_(q)CF₃ or SF₅ group, m, n, and q represent, independently of one another, an integer equal to 0, 1 or 2, provided that, when R₁ is methyl, then either R₃ is haloalkyl, R₄ is NH₂, R₁₁ is Cl, R₁₃ is CF₃ and X is N; or R₂ is 4,5-dicyanoimidazol 2-yl, R₄ is Cl, R₁₁ is Cl, R₁₃ is CF₃, and X is —C—Cl.
 2. Process according to claim 1, wherein the active ingredient is an insecticide with contact effect, and no repellent action against the insects.
 3. Process according to claim 1, wherein the active ingredient is an insecticide which is able to kill termites in a nest that is located outside of the perimeter of the building when the insecticide is brought back to the nest by termites which have contacted the treated locations.
 4. Process according to claim 1, wherein the solution or suspension does no contain an attractant for termites.
 5. Process according to claim 1, wherein said process is used in a preventive way.
 6. Process according to claim 1, wherein said process is used in a curative way.
 7. Process according to claim 1, wherein the solution or suspension is applied to soil.
 8. Process according to claim 7, wherein the solution or suspension is applied by spraying on the soil or mixing with the soil.
 9. Process according to claim 1, wherein the treated locations are at corners and/or crossing walls of the building.
 10. Process according to claim 1, wherein the treated locations are at places which have a greater humidity level than the untreated locations.
 11. Process according to claim 7, wherein the amount of active ingredient at the treated locations is within the range of 0.05 g/m² to 0.0001 g/m² per surface of the soil.
 12. Process according to claim 1, wherein each of said treated locations has a width of from 1 to 50 cm.
 13. Process according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said untreated locations either contain none of said insecticidally active ingredient or do not contain an effective amount of said insecticidally active ingredient.
 14. Process according to claim 1, wherein said liquid consists essentially of water.
 15. Process for the protection of a future building against damage caused by insects, said future building having a proposed outline which includes at least the location of the outer walls of the building, said process comprising the steps of: a) forming a solution or suspension of an insecticidally active ingredient in a liquid, wherein the amount of the active ingredient in the solution or suspension is from about 0.01 to about 20% by weight and the active ingredient has no quick knock down effect and a secondary killing action; b) forming treated and untreated locations along the outline of the future building by applying an effective amount of said solution or suspension to discrete locations around or under said future building along the outline of the future building, wherein the treated locations are the discrete locations along the outline of the future building where said solution or suspension has been applied and the untreated locations are the remaining portions of the outline where the solution or suspension was not applied; further wherein at least a portion of said untreated locations either contain none of said insecticidally active ingredient or do not contain an effective amount of said insecticidally active ingredient and said active ingredient is an insecticide of the formula (I):

in which: X represents a trivalent nitrogen atom or a C—R₁₂ radical, wherein the other three valences of the carbon atom are part of the aromatic ring, R₁ is CN or methyl or a halogen atom, R₂ is S(O)_(n)R₃ or 4,5-dicyanoimidazol 2-yl or haloalkyl, R₃ is alkyl or haloalkyl; R₄ represents a hydrogen or halogen atom or a member of the group consisting of NR₅R₆, S(O)_(m)R₇, C(O)R₇, C(O)O—R₇, alkyl, haloalkyl, OR₈ and —N═C(R₉)(R₁₀); R₅ and R₆ are both hydrogen or together form a divalent alkylene radical which is interrupted by one or two divalent heteroatoms, said divalent heteroatoms being independently selected from the group consisting of oxygen and sulfur; R₇ represents an alkyl or haloalkyl radical; R₈ represents an alkyl or haloalkyl radical or a hydrogen atom; R₉ represents an alkyl radical or a hydrogen atom; R₁₀ represents a phenyl or heteroaryl group which may optionally be unsubstituted or substituted by one or more halogen atoms or a member of the group consisting of OH, —O-alkyl, —S-alkyl, cyano, and alkyl; R₁₁, and R₁₂ represent, independently of one another, a hydrogen or halogen atom, or CN or NO₂, R₁₃ represents a halogen atom or a haloalkyl, haloalkoxy, S(O)_(q)CF₃ or SF₅ group, m, n, and q represent, independently of one another, an integer equal to 0, 1 or 2, provided that, when R₁ is methyl, then either R₃ is haloalkyl, R₄ is NH₂, R₁₁ is Cl, R₁₃ is CF₃ and X is N; or R₂ is 4,5-dicyanoimidazol 2-yl, R₄ is Cl, R₁₁ is Cl, R₁₃ is CF₃, and X is —C—Cl.
 16. Process according to claim 15, wherein the proposed outline includes the location of the outer walls and inner walls of the ground floor of the future building and said treated locations are areas along the outline of the future building where corners of the outer walls and/or intersections of the outer walls and crossing walls of the ground floor of the future building will be located.
 17. Process according to claim 15, wherein said liquid consists essentially of water.
 18. Process for the protection of a future building against damage caused by insects, said future building having a proposed outline which includes at least the location of the outer walls of the building, said process comprising the steps of: a) forming a solution or suspension of an insecticidally active ingredient in a liquid, wherein the amount of the active ingredient in the solution or suspension is from about 0.01 to about 20% by weight and the active ingredient has no quick knock down effect and a secondary killing action; b) forming treated and untreated locations inside the outline of the future building by applying an effective amount of said solution or suspension to discrete locations inside the outline of said future building, wherein the treated locations are the discrete locations inside the outline of the future building where said solution or suspension has been applied and the untreated locations are the remaining areas that are inside the outline where the solution or suspension was not applied; further wherein at least a portion of said untreated locations either contain none of said insecticidally active ingredient or do not contain an effective amount of said insecticidally active ingredient and said active ingredient is an insecticide of the formula (I):

in which: X represents a trivalent nitrogen atom or a C—R₁₂ radical, wherein the other three valences of the carbon atom are part of the aromatic ring, R₁ is CN or methyl or a halogen atom, R₂ is S(O)_(n)R₃ or 4,5-dicyanoimidazol 2-yl or haloalkyl, R₃ is alkyl or haloalkyl; R₄ represents a hydrogen or halogen atom or a member of the group consisting of NR₅R₆, S(O)_(m)R₇, C(O)R₇, C(O)O—R₇, alkyl, haloalkyl, OR₈ and —N═C(R₉)(R₁₀); R₅ and R₆ are both hydrogen or together form a divalent alkylene radical which is interrupted by one or two divalent heteroatoms, said divalent heteroatoms being independently selected from the group consisting of oxygen and sulfur; R₇ represents an alkyl or haloalkyl radical; R₈ represents an alkyl or haloalkyl radical or a hydrogen atom; R₉ represents an alkyl radical or a hydrogen atom; R₁₀ represents a phenyl or heteroayl group which may optionally be unsubstituted or substituted by one or more halogen atoms or a member of the group consisting of OH, —O-alkyl, —S-alkyl, cyano, and alkyl; R₁₁ and R₁₂ represent, independently of one another, a hydrogen or halogen atom, or CN or NO₂, R₁₃ represents a halogen atom or a haloalkyl, haloalkoxy, S(O)_(q)CF₃ or SF₅ group, m, n, and q represent, independently of one another, an integer equal to 0, 1 or 2, provided that, when R₁ is methyl, then either R₃ is haloalkyl, R₄ is NH₂, R₁₁ is Cl, R₁₃ is CF₃ and X is N; or R₂ is 4,5-dicyanoimidazol 2-yl, R₄ is Cl, R₁₁ is Cl, R₁₃ is CF₃, and X is —C-Cl.
 19. Process according to claim 18, wherein said liquid consists essentially of water. 